Building Payer Relationships Key to Financially Sustainable Palliative Care

Building and sustaining a financially viable palliative care program will largely depend on a hospice’s ability to demonstrate quality of care and negotiate with payers for reimbursement for these services, according to Anne Tumlinson, CEO of the consulting firm ATI Advisory at the Hospice News Palliative Care Summit. Demand for palliative care has skyrocketed in […]

Amedisys Triples Hospice, Home Health Growth With More M&A on the Horizon

Amedisys, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMED) is seeing its hospice and home health growth rates tripling based on rising patient census and a robust acquisitions pipeline. Hospice remains at the core of the company’s M&A strategy; Amedisys expects to see activity pick up in the home health sector as well this year. Baton Rouge, La.-based Amedisys last […]

Rising Demand Driving Private Equity Interest in Palliative Care

Palliative care has seen an influx of private equity and venture capital investment in recent years, with growing demand for serious illness care a driving factor. Along with a fragmented marketplace, these factors signify a strong business case to support continued palliative care, according to Fred Bentley, managing director of health care consulting company Avalere […]

Civil Rights, Disability Laws of Rising Importance in Hospice Compliance

Hospice providers will need to be well-versed in laws and regulations, as well as proactive in compliance education to avoid bringing regulators to their doorstep. Increasingly, this includes careful adherence to laws and regulations pertaining to civil rights and protections for the disabled. Compliance is a critical priority among hospice providers as regulators sharpen focus […]

Encompass Projects a Robust Hospice M&A Pipeline

Despite slowed activity in part tempered by the COVID-19 pandemic, hospice and home health provider Encompass Health Corp. (NYSE: EHC) anticipates accelerated M&A activity in the near future, seeking acquisitions in both spaces as markets become thick with competition. Similar to many providers nationwide, Encompass Health was impacted by pandemic-related headwinds throughout 2020. The company’s […]

Joliet Area Community Hospice Rebrands as Lightways

Illinois-based Joliet Area Community Hospice has rebranded as Lightways Hospice and Serious Illness Care. The new brand is intended to reflect the organization’s continued growth trajectory and expanded patient reach and range of services, including serious illness care, pediatric care and grief support as well as hospice. The rebranding reflects a growing trend in hospice […]

Hospices Navigate Regulatory, Financial Concerns to Launch PACE Programs

Hospices are increasingly launching Programs for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly (PACE) programs to engage patients further upstream. Offering PACE services can also position hospice providers for participation in emerging value-based payment models such as Primary Care First and direct contracting. PACE programs depict a comprehensive approach to care for participants who meet certain eligibility […]

LHC Group Doubles Down on Hospice Deals Despite High Valuations

LHC Group (NASDAQ: LHCG) aims to continue growth of its hospice services as this year unfolds with a number of acquisitions in the works. Record-high multiples for hospice acquisitions are not deterring LHC Group from pursuing those transactions. Hospice deals accounted for 71% of the $502.5 million the company currently earmarked for its M&A pipeline. […]

More Hospices Are Developing Medical Group Practices

A growing number of hospices are developing medical group practices, with home health and palliative care services representing the largest gaps for hospices to fill in terms of community-based services and meeting seriously ill population needs. Out of 1,200 hospice providers nationwide, more than a quarter (26%) indicated interest in developing a medical group practice […]